An Oxfordshire butcher has won a prestigious prize for Britain's best family business.

M Newitt & Sons, based in Thame, won the Coutts Prize for Best UK Family Business in the £1m to £5m turnover category. Three-years-ago, M Newitt & Sons was a successful family business with sales of £1m a year. Now it takes £3m a year, thanks to its bold move of opening Newitt branded counters in 36 branches of Budgens.

It was this, combined with an impressive level of community involvement, through educating children and doing practical demonstrations in schools, that won Newitt's the prize.

Roger Pedder, chairman of the independent evaluation committee, said: "Newitt & Son demonstrated what the independent judging panel was looking for. The company has embarked on a bold strategy, by developing its brand through the Budgens chain. The business also has a distinctive track record of financial success, with over seven years of growth."